Well, sort of...
Unlike Geoff and his Jaffa mates, most of the country has been let of jail and can now do more important things like ride motorbicycles. So how to celebrate this? A decent hoon on the Connie, covering as much as the free North Island as possible? Flipping stones far and wide on the Tenere. Or, rarking it up on a trail ride on the 450?
Yeah, there's one option missing there - puttering around the valley on the mightiest of mouses.
I dunno why, but on Sunday I wasn't really hankering for a big ride and really missed the little bike, so after a quick visit to the olds and a top up with some ridiculously expensive fuel (you should not be able to fit $27 worth of fuel in a 250!), I went for a little meander out behind Colyton.
After nearly heading up Finnis Road, I did a quick U-turn to go and explore the top end of Taonui Road and then onto Pollock Road. Pollock Road was nice and fast (well, I was on the WR) gravel which ran up a valley before climbing out of the valley and ending up on Ridge Road.
Turning right, I followed Ridge Road until it actually became Finnis Road and rode a wee bit of Finnis until it became Zig Zag Road. And then I needed a rest. Warning mega WR250 porn below:
After a short section of seal on Valley Road the next gravel was Midlands Road. The fast climb up the small rise was a lot of fun before dropping down a little into some more windier stuff on Watershed Road. And then it was all over...probably just under 100km for the whole ride...
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| About 75km of very expensive fuel missing from the tank. |
So, an itch was scratched but that itch ain't going away...
$27 for fuel, thats worth more than the bike. Good god how much is petrol in your backwards nation now?
ReplyDeleteWR's now appreciating in value. Yamaha have killed this best 250 on the market.
DeleteIt was $2.36/L for 91...
Wow that is expensive. I think 95 was 2.49 at Fox Glacier in 2014. So it should be much cheaper where you are.
DeleteOi you cheeky bugger! Coromandel might be at the same general latitude as Auckland but we currently enjoy the same freedoms as you Middle Earth knuckle-draggers ;-) . I went out on Sunday with one of my IAM mates and did the Coro Loop which took us by total surprise. Over the entire 200 km anticlockwise loop, we passed about 6 cars. Couldn't believe how empty the place was - absolutely glorious. As far as I'm concerned, there can be a permanent barrier south of Auckland :-)
ReplyDeleteOr we get a really big bulldozer...
DeleteI understand the itch, even if it no longer motorcycling for me but just to be able to enjoy the outdoors. Lovely scenery, I wish I could travel there one more time.
ReplyDeleteGotta get out there and enjoy the outdoors eh? One day they'll have to reopen the doors...
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